I'm sure those of you in high school are very excited for tryouts for this coming fall. Most of you probably have tryouts within the next few weeks. For those of you trying out soon a few tips.

1) PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE like a mofo before tryouts

2) Practice warm-ups not just screwing around

3) Buy some magnum sticks and build chops fast

4) Memorize the warm-up packet before tryouts or if you get it at tryouts memorize it ASAP

I'm a freshman and we have tryouts starting wednesday and tuesday is orientation. I'm really excited Gimme some tips though, I made this little list for other people also. I think a seperate thread should be made, the ultimate tryout thread with a lot of tips and people can add to it

I need some tips for tryouts though.

I'M VERY VERY VERY EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure there are tons of threads like this, but I'll give you my very best tip for tryouts...


practice concentrating.


I know it sounds strange, but something that took me by surprise when I first tried out for a drum corps was not being able to concentrate 100%. Look at a clock and tell yourself that for the next ten minutes, you will do nothing but play a certain exercise over and over, not breaking set, not anything, and NOT LETTING YOUR MIND WANDER.

Anyway, hope that helps before some mod closes this :P

The biggest piece of advice I can give you:


Relax.


I've seen people who have been on the line for years go in to tryout, tense up, and lose their spot.


Also, practice,practice,practice,practice,practice and practice some more.

LAME.
I wish we could get started as early as you guys. We don't have drum camp until July 10th, and Band Camp until sometime in August.

we have orientation tuesday tryout wednesday and next tuesday and wednesday and then final placements thursday of next week

my tryouts went a course of like 3 weeks, but only on wednesdays, cuz thats the only day my instructor his there. we got the final results last week. 3 snares 5 bass 2 tenors 2 cymbals, biggest i've seen the line in forever.

but anywayz just relax dude don't go in there all tensed up cuz u think so and so might have a chance of beating you out for snare or whatever it is u wanna play. cuz that happened to me cuz i knew this other dude had a better chance of getting tenors over me. but the instructor put him on snare and presto im on tenors.

but everything that has been said above including what u said are good ways to prepare

I'm trying out for tenors, their are a possible of 3 spots. I've got a good chance other people trying out are: a junior who just started playing music this year and played auxilary. a wind player witching to drums, a 8th grader that played 3rd bass, and a freshman that didn't march they will all be a year older next year of course. the junior and wind player are the top 2 besides me. Everyone says I'm gonna make it and I think I will so I'm not worried I think I'm better than them

sweet dude..i talked to my instructor the week tryouts ended after everyone else had left to see what he was considering me for...and he told me i would more than likely be tenors so i walked in that band room the following week knowing i was safre...sounds like ur in the same boat ...just keept it afloat dude

What are magnum sticks?

They're another name for Vic Firth MS-4s or Dennis DeLucia's old stick when he was with VF. They're really heavy so they naturally build chops pretty fast. But remember, you have to work to build the chops using the right sticks only helps